Criminal defense lawyers in Highland, CA. It's not the most fun topic in the world, but like it or not, you might find yourself in need of a Highland, CA, criminal defense attorney. Maybe someone asked you for a favor, and you didn't realize it was illegal. Maybe one of your friends broke the law, and you've just gotten wrapped up in it, or you had a momentary lapse in judgement. Or maybe your partner was arrested, and you're in need of a premier Highland, CA, criminal defense lawyer to help you protect your freedom.
For any criminal charges in Highland, the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc. is equipped to help you fight the charges. We have over 25 of the top criminal defense attorneys in California, and our results speak for themselves. Talk to an attorney at (800) 755-5174 or reach out online for a free, confidential consultation.
The Importance of Working With a Leading Highland, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyer NOW
As you wait to contact a criminal defense lawyer, your chances of a positive outcome are dwindling. While you're hesitating, the prosecution gets a head start on the case against you. California can be very brutal in its treatment of convictions, and letting the prosecution get an advantage could make the difference the outcome of your case.
On a related note, the longer you delay hiring an attorney, the more possible it is to carelessly give the police evidence against you. Speaking to the police without a lawyer, not taking the charges seriously, or calling your friends and family could all be inadvertently digging a deep hole for yourself.
Connecting with a Highland, CA, criminal defense lawyer ASAP might stop the state's case in its tracks, before you need to go to trial. By suppressing evidence and negotiating with the prosecution, your lawyer may be able to get the charges dropped or dismissed.
Arrests can happen any time of day or year, and we're ready to help whenever they happen. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., we're always prepared for your call and will start working on your defense right away.
How to Handle an Arrest in Highland, CA
Don't panic if you're being put under arrest in Highland, CA. Your defense starts the moment you are arrested, and you want to handle it the right way. Follow these steps during the arrest proceedings, to improve the likelihood of a beneficial outcome:
- Do Not Resist: Causing trouble, trying to get away, or harming the police won't help you in the long run. In fact, it will actually hurt your case.
- Keep Quiet Until Your Attorney Arrives: When you are interviewed by the authorities, politely inform them that you are declining to answer questions without a lawyer present.
- Find a Lawyer: One of your rights during an arrest in Highland, CA, is to make a serious of phone calls – be sure one of them is to your attorney.
- Post Bail (If Applicable): Most people charged with a crime in Highland, CA, are either released on their own recognizance or given a bail amount to post. Staying out of jail prior to a trial can give you some breathing room and make it easier to build your defense.
- Write Down All the Details of Your Arrest: As a first step in building your defense, you should document all findings you have on your defense and share it with your criminal defense lawyer.
When you take these precautions and work with a premier Highland, CA, criminal defense lawyer, you'll create a base for a powerful defense.
How Our Highland, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyers Help You
We believe that criminal defense lawyers have an obligation not only to represent you in court, but to get to know your case from your perspective. Because of our individual-tailored approach, we both build a defense based around your situation and care about the broader implications on your life.
We will go about your case by:
- Studying your case from all angles – from you, the state's evidence, and our own investigations, we get to know your case inside and out.
- Create a mighty defense by filing motions to remove unlawfully obtained evidence, utilizing our wide range of resources, and fighting the state's subpoenas.
- Be at your side in court if there is a trial. We take steps to prevent prejudiced juries, discredit the state's witnesses in cross–examination, and show reasonable doubt.
- Negotiate with the prosecution for plea deals. If the prosecution isn't confident it will win in court, we may be able to secure a plea deal that protects your freedom.
- Advocate for lesser sentences at the trial's end. We'll always be honest with you about realistic outcomes for your case, and how we can work to get you the most positive outcome.
- Helping you move forward once the case is over. We can aid you with the expungement, sealing, and destruction of arrest and criminal records. Don't let your record follow you into the future.
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley's Highland, CA, Criminal Defense Legal Areas
The Law Offices of David S. Chesley can help you with almost any Highland, CA criminal charge, and are prepared to fight for your rights in any Highland, CA, criminal defense case. Our criminal defense attorneys can help you fight:
Traffic Charges
If you're facing traffic charges, it could be from one of a variety of alleged actions while on the road. They can include driving while intoxicated, driving while high, and reckless driving. Traffic charges we commonly defend in Highland, CA, include:
- DUI/DWI Charges
- Felony DUI Charges
- Street Racing Charges
- DMV Hearing Defense
- Driving Without a License Charges
- And more
Violent Offense Charges
Violent crime charges cover a wide range of alleged offenses, and all of them are serious. Several violent crimes have enhanced penalties in special circumstances. These are some common violent offense charges that we can help you defend yourself from:
Drug Charges
Drug charges in Highland, CA, are in a tricky place, because the difference between some accusations (for example, possession and possession-for-sale) are hard to distinguish. The state of California imposes criminal penalties for the misuse of everything from marijuana to fentanyl. Here are some of the most common charges and substances we build defenses for:
- Marijuana
- Methamphetamine
- Opiods
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Drug Trafficking
- Drug Possession for Sale
- And more
Theft Charges
Highland, CA, theft charges frequently intersect with other types of criminal cases. Sentences are more severe for forceful or violent theft, such as robbery. Below are some of our theft charge defense specialties:
Sex Crime Charges
Sex crimes are socially and legally some of the most serious charges someone can face. There are many variations, including the posting of revenge porn, sexual assault, and soliciting a prostitute. Some common sex crime charges we defend against are:
Murder Charges
When you're facing murder charges in Highland, CA, you need a top-tier defense plan. No matter what the circumstances were, the punishment is strict, up to life imprisonment for first-degree murder. This means that you need a powerful defense strategy to protect you. These are some of the murder charges that we can help you defend against:
- Attempted Murder
- First Degree Murder
- Second Degree Murder
- Voluntary Manslaughter
- Involuntary Manslaughter
- And more.
Contact our lawyers today to learn more about how we can help with your case.
How to Pick a Highland, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyer
There is no shortage of criminal defense lawyers in Highland, CA, but this isn't a choice you should make without preparing. Picking the right criminal defense attorney is critical to maximize your chances of a positive outcome. By going with a lawyer who has the below characteristics, you are ensuring you get the legal representation you deserve:
- Experience – on both sides of the courtroom .
- Relationships With Local Courts – to leverage in negotiations.
- Familiarity With Your Charges – practice defending previous cases just like yours.
- Positive Reputation – from people they've worked with in the past.
- Responsiveness and Availability – someone who works with your schedule and doesn't keep you in the dark.
- Transparent Costs – don't get caught up in a contract you don't understand.
The Steps Our Highland, CA Criminal Defense Lawyers Take to Protect Your Freedom:
From day one, we craft the strongest defense we can against your charges. You can't just presume that the prosecution will fail; We don't let up for the entirely of the legal process, showing strength in the face of the prosecution and gaining the confidence of the jury.
When you call our Highland, CA, criminal defense lawyers, our team begins crafting a strategy to protect you. Here are some common steps we take for major criminal defense cases:
- Understand Your Case – We learn from you directly about your case, and conduct other investigations to get ahead of the prosecution.
- Argue For Charges Dropped or Dismissed – Whether at a pre–filing investigation conference or a preliminary hearing, we try to end the case early, before it goes to trial.
- Champion Your Pretrial Freedom – At a bail hearing, we will show the court that you deserve freedom while awaiting trial, and minimize the bail you'll need to post to get your freedom back.
- Act as Your Intermediary With the State – We'll look for a plea deal which offers you an alternative to a trial's risks.
- Defend You at Trial – Using the defense we built while first learning about your case, we'll challenge the district attorney at trial and show reasonable doubt to the jury.
- Represent You for Sentencing and Appeals – As applicable, we will argue for lenient sentencing and can file appeals to give you the justice you deserve.
The Advantages of Working With Our Highland, CA, Criminal Defense Lawyers:
Our lawyers have experience. When you work with us, you're getting a law firm with a combined more than five decades of legal experience. We know what it takes to stop a guilty verdict, what the prosecution's likely plan will be, and we can take advantages of the weaknesses we know are in their strategies.
Our connections in Highland, CA, courts allow us to get plea bargains that can protect your freedom. If you do end up in a courtroom in front of a jury, your criminal defense lawyer won't hesitate to give you a powerful defense.
We're well-known and well-regarded by both former clients and experts. When you work with the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, you get a team who knows how to win in Highland, CA, court. We're upfront with our fees, and you can call us at all times if you have any questions or you need to speak with someone right away.
Frequently Asked Criminal Defense Questions in Highland, CA
A lot is going on after you've been arrested or accused of a crime. There's a lot you're trying to find out, and it's not always clear what to do next. We've put together some of the common questions Highland, CA, residents ask about criminal defense, and have answers for you below:
Do I still need a Highland, CA, criminal defense lawyer if I'm innocent?
Yes – while it's unlikely that the police will intentionally accuse the wrong person, errors can always happen, and when your freedom is at stake, you don't want to take chances.
Is there a way to remove convictions from my record in Highland, CA?
There are options to seal your records for many misdemeanors and even several felonies. In California, this process is called sealing a record, but is sometimes referred to as expungement. A criminal defense lawyer can assist you with this process.
Do criminal records in Highland, CA, include arrests?
Yes, but these aren't always permanent – the authorities keeps a record of arrests, but without a conviction, the court can restrict access to those records.
Can the police arrest me without a warrant?
When an officer has probably cause, they can detain you even if they don't have a warrant.
How does sentencing work in Highland, CA?
In Highland, CA, sentences for criminal convictions normally fall into one of two situations:
- After a plea deal, the sentence is usually whatever was agreed upon
- After a conviction in a trial, the judge will use legal guidelines to decide on a sentence
Why do people plea bargain in Highland, CA?
Plea bargaining is a set of negotiations between the district attorney and your defense attorney. The state uses them to handle cases faster, while defendants prevent the worse case scenario that comes with a conviction.
Get in Touch With Our Firm – Your Future Is at Stake
For any criminal charges in Highland, CA, you need a strong defense strategy. You can't settle for anything less than a top criminal defense attorney. At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, you'll get someone who knows how to handle your case.
We will mount a comprehensive legal defense to protect you. Reach out right away – the Highland, CA, district attorney isn't waiting, and neither should you. Call (800) 755-5174 or contact us online to start crafting your case now.
We also provide the following legal services in Highland, CA:
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